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GBL, I recommend recombining divisions as soon as possible. They have far more staying power that way. The individual units can be trashed in an attack. I learned my lesson the hard way.

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

GBL, I recommend recombining divisions as soon as possible. They have far more staying power that way. The individual units can be trashed in an attack. I learned my lesson the hard way.

Hi Mike

That's my plan mate. The initial set up is a right pisser for someone as anal as me about organising things. As I learn and get more organised I will start on it. I really want to get a handle on the economy and upgrade paths, as well as ship upgrades. Nothing seems to make sense on the dark side and the repair yards seem so slow compared to the allied side. I am enjoying the learning curve, but I think I will always be an AFB at heart...

27th December 1942

No screenies today. I had nothing to show, so thought I would save some server space!

Central Pacific

I-16 hit AP Matsonia with one torpedo at Christmas Island. She took a little damage and detection level is now 2, so I pulled her out a hex. There is another I-boat in hex and an RO boat on the way to join. 2 CLs were repaired at Kwajalein so they moved to Roi Namur where they will transport an Air Company to Wake. 1st JNAF BF at Maloelap is going to go to Canton Island, but I will save the preparation to the last moment so that he hopefully thinks the other units preparing were a distraction when he sees them at Nauru. Tabiteuea fell to a shock attack from my landing force.

South Pacific

I changed my mind about what to do with the 2 CVLs. They will escort the Air Flotilla convoy into Rabaul instead. I want to cover such an important unit as torpedoes on my Netties will make a big difference if Martin makes any nuisance raids.

DEI, Malaya and Philippines

Sandakan fell and the unit is being reloaded to gobble up another British base in Borneo. B-17s operating out of Mindanao tried to bomb the tf, but with no result. Nells from Manado sank two xAKLs near Davao. I am going to try a shock attack at Lucena.

There were 13 Buffs over Singers today. I lost a Zero and an Oscar Ia. Between 3 and 6 Buffs were downed depending on where you look. 75th Sentai at Alor Star converting from the Lily to the Sally IIa, so they will not be adding their weight to the continuing bombing of Singapore. Taiping fell to my advanced units. Hopefully things will speed up now.

A Jap BF is landing at Singkawang so I am flying in recon planes to get a better look at Palembang and Batavia. A supply tf is unloading at Miri to help repair oil centres. A larger one is on the way from Japan. The KB refuelled at Kuching and will move to cover the Palembang landing force.

CBI

An Oscar sweep found Buffs over Moulmein and shot one down. I am bombarding to see what is there. I can't remember if I am allowed to use my RTA units there. No doubt I will soon be told... I should take Tavoy next turn.

China is turning into a grind. Where I came off worst with bombarding I am resting. Where I came off better I am trying shock attacks. I will have to do some major reorganising to clear big resistence, but need to keep Martin under pressure.

Hi there GBL... I was wondering if you knew that both the 4th fleet and Southeast Area Fleet headquarters units (that begin the campaign in Truk) are torpedo enabling, and that also the Southeast Area Fleet unit has a command radius of five. What I normally do is leave the 4th Fleet unit at Truk to keep that base torpedo capable, and move the Southeast Area Fleet unit to Rabaul. I then build up a nest of bases (within command radius of five from Rabaul)in the Bismarck, and New Britain areas that are torpedo capable.

Hi Des

No I did not, so thanks very much! [&o] I was intending to push an air flotilla onto an island within reach of the shipping lanes to Oz to cause disruption at some point, so I'll keep the one there now in the area, but I will copy your idea for Rabaul. How are you? Your post the other day has made me stop letting my tiredness get to me. You are an inspiration mate.

I'm great thanks GDL, as the tumor is in remission (touch wood), and the side-effects from the drugs are not too bad. But it dose change the way one thinks about life, as a lot of things just aren't important any-more.

But the really great thing is I get to play AE alot now, with no distractions like a job. I have two really good PBEM campaigns going against two excellent opponents, so what more could one want, aye?

28th December

Central Pacific

The screenie is the stand off patrol line. If it's in the wrong place, please let me know...

I-16 is no longer detected, so will move back inshore at Christmas Island. I-20 is in hex, but does not seem to be causing the same amount of trouble as I-16.

South Pacific

The two HQs at Truk don't have torps at the moment, so I'll have to wait until they appear to do any moves. The Air Flotilla for Rabaul is a few days out still.

Here is a screenie showing my current focus for R&D

ORIGINAL: goodboyladdie

28th December

Central Pacific

The screenie is the stand off patrol line. If it's in the wrong place, please let me know...

I-16 is no longer detected, so will move back inshore at Christmas Island. I-20 is in hex, but does not seem to be causing the same amount of trouble as I-16.

You just looking for convoys? I don't know where he is routing them, but by having your guys so concentrated once he finds them he can just route around them easily enough. At that range from Pearl Harbor he might even sniff them by air.

Can't tell from the screenie if you have them sitting or using patrol zones, but I highly recommend using patrol zones with react=1 for subs.

DEI and Phillipines

TK San Clemente Maru was sunk by O-19 at Babeldaob. It reminded me to organise my merchants and escort properly as some conversions start to come out of yards in Japan. I am also starting to gather in transports that have delivered the available troops to their intended theatres so that I can get a handle on what I need to keep safe for some future useful conversion. Mines have appeared at Manado. 2 DMS are coming from Hong Kong and another from north of Luzon to give me a fast minesweeping force in the area. I'll upgrade them one at a time after 1/42 upgrades become available. The AS damaged near Babeldaob earlier in December has had to make a run for Batan Island after flooding suddenly increased. B-17s from Mindanao tried to hit my ships at Dadjangas and Sandakan. Ashore on Mindanao, the way to Davao is now clear. On Luzon Lucena fell to a shock attack. The defending Philippine Division did not appear to have any supply.

I have created 4 midgets at Kuching as an anti-bombardment force. I am not sure how to use them, to be honest. Any MTB/MGBs that I have are also slowly making their way here. In Malaya, 1 Buff was shot down by an Oscar 1c over Singers, but not many of my raids here or in the PI actually flew today due to generally bad weather. The Kuantan force will sail this turn with Oscar 1a cover from Kota Bharu. Pontianak fell and I am about to start reducing the pocket at Sambas.

Your Rufe and Nick research appear unnecessarily high in my opinion. Realistically, you could get by with zero research for these two units and just start producing them when they become historically available. For the Nick, that's 5/42. For the Rufe, it's 4/42.

I like your heavy emphasis on the Frank research.

Why no love for the B7A2 or the Ki-61-Ia lines?

ORIGINAL: witpqs

ORIGINAL: goodboyladdie

28th December

Central Pacific

The screenie is the stand off patrol line. If it's in the wrong place, please let me know...

I-16 is no longer detected, so will move back inshore at Christmas Island. I-20 is in hex, but does not seem to be causing the same amount of trouble as I-16.

You just looking for convoys? I don't know where he is routing them, but by having your guys so concentrated once he finds them he can just route around them easily enough. At that range from Pearl Harbor he might even sniff them by air.

Can't tell from the screenie if you have them sitting or using patrol zones, but I highly recommend using patrol zones with react=1 for subs.

They are there to make a nuisance of themselves as he tries to sort out Pearl Harbor. I have them static with a reaction of 1 as I want a line with no gaps. I am trying to cover the direct routes to ports on the West Coast SF downwards.

Well if you are after damaged ships I figure your subs are faster, so you can still use patrol zones to widen your search area. The same applies to coverage - if he sniffs a sub by air (or however), there is no way he would send damaged ships through the area.

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

Your Rufe and Nick research appear unnecessarily high in my opinion. Realistically, you could get by with zero research for these two units and just start producing them when they become historically available. For the Nick, that's 5/42. For the Rufe, it's 4/42.

I like your heavy emphasis on the Frank research.

Why no love for the B7A2 or the Ki-61-Ia lines?

Hi mate. Thanks for that. I'll try to remember to sort out the Rufe/Nick next time. I just haven't looked at anything I am not going to concentrate production on. As regards the others, I am doing a little bit at a time so I can learn as I go. Am I not researching the first Tony? I was planning to switch that research over to the next model as I get closer to the first. Refresh me on the B7A2 please?

CBI

Martin has B-17s in India. They have been trying to hinder my build up at Moulmein. That build up is complete enough to shock at Moulmein this turn. I will also attack the unit retreating from Tavoy, which incidentally fell this turn. I have not seen the AVG for ages, but I lost an Oscar 1b to a Buff over Moulmein today.

ORIGINAL: goodboyladdie

ORIGINAL: witpqs

ORIGINAL: goodboyladdie

28th December

Central Pacific

The screenie is the stand off patrol line. If it's in the wrong place, please let me know...

I-16 is no longer detected, so will move back inshore at Christmas Island. I-20 is in hex, but does not seem to be causing the same amount of trouble as I-16.

You just looking for convoys? I don't know where he is routing them, but by having your guys so concentrated once he finds them he can just route around them easily enough. At that range from Pearl Harbor he might even sniff them by air.

Can't tell from the screenie if you have them sitting or using patrol zones, but I highly recommend using patrol zones with react=1 for subs.

They are there to make a nuisance of themselves as he tries to sort out Pearl Harbor. I have them static with a reaction of 1 as I want a line with no gaps. I am trying to cover the direct routes to ports on the West Coast SF downwards.

By 'have them static', do you mean they're parked in their destination hex with orders to stay at their destination? I would recommend you set them to their singular hex destination with the 'patrol' function, reaction of 1 instead.

I would spread them out (1-2 hexes between each sub) to the SE. I've had quite a bit of luck catching convoys coming to Hawaii from directly to the east.

ORIGINAL: goodboyladdie

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

Your Rufe and Nick research appear unnecessarily high in my opinion. Realistically, you could get by with zero research for these two units and just start producing them when they become historically available. For the Nick, that's 5/42. For the Rufe, it's 4/42.

I like your heavy emphasis on the Frank research.

Why no love for the B7A2 or the Ki-61-Ia lines?

Hi mate. Thanks for that. I'll try to remember to sort out the Rufe/Nick next time. I just haven't looked at anything I am not going to concentrate production on. As regards the others, I am doing a little bit at a time so I can learn as I go. Am I not researching the first Tony? I was planning to switch that research over to the next model as I get closer to the first. Refresh me on the B7A2 please?

Your TBO.YTA cell entry for the Ki-61-Ia is zero. I don't use tracker, so I'm assuming that this is your pending research commitment to this unit?

The B7A2 Grace can serve as a replacement DB (or TB!) for your carrier TFs. It's got range up the ying yang and is a nice plane to use as a GP backstop for other production. Worth pulling forward in research certainly.

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

I would spread them out (1-2 hexes between each sub) to the SE. I've had quite a bit of luck catching convoys coming to Hawaii from directly to the east.

Ok Mike and Witpqs. I'll jiggle them around a bit. Thanks very much for taking the time to offer help, btw.

You seem to have one LCU moving NW instead of W and towards Moulmein in the hex W of Rahaeng. Is that intentional?